You made a great point about Burk not being the best person to represent the “lower” salary guys, since he made $6million last year.

I agree 100%. That was well said by you.

Now think about how laughable it is when poor people actually believe a billionare Democrat politician is “representing” them in DC…..isn’t that hilarious?

Funny how most people can get that concept when it comes to sports talk, but can’t even come close to understanding that concept in politics where it affects us everyday.

Great post bleedgreen75

]]>By: rockymtnphinfanhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-986934
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:22:11 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-986934Maybe we should consult the “Mama grizzly bear” Palin. I am sure she would have a very deep and insightful answer. (now thats sarcasmic!)
I
]]>By: badcallsfootballhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-986882
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:48:57 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-986882“the U.S. government brings in a couple trillion [dollars], don’t you think they’d know how to balance the budget? . . . .”

touche Mr. Birk

I’m not an obama hater like some, but he needs to stfu on this subject until him (obama) and his co-workers (other politicians) can figure out how to balance the budget of the richest country in the world. NFL is a business, if they can’t get a labor agreement done, that’s their problem.

If politicians cant balance the budget, then they are failing to fulfill their duty that we elected them to do.

Judging by the screen name you’ve chosen, I know you’re not the brightest bulb.

You’re not a real American if you can’t tolerate different political views from your own…you’re a Nazi loser and have no place in this great country of ours.

President Obama is doing a great job and will continue doing a great job for the next 6 years…there’s nothing you can do about that but join us.

]]>By: tuckercarlsonisthevoiceofreasonhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-984737
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:02:39 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-984737realfootballfan says:
Mar 7, 2011 2:39 PM
It’s a good thing that people like me are continually outnumbering losers like you who line yourself up with a party rather than great leaders who will do the right thing for America.

You keep telling yourself it’s going back the other way…Obama won with 51% of the vote last time, it’ll be worse in 2012.

He’s a great President.
_____________________

Stick with football. You know nothing about politics. Anyone who thinks Obama is a great president is no non-partisan. You’re clearly a member of the Communist party.

Lol, you’re too funny but have no way to dispute the facts. If you want to cry about the deficit, do it consistently, which of course you wouldn’t and didn’t do when your “heroes” were in office.

Like another guy posted, the only President who’s balanced the budget in the last 30 years was Clinton, so he should be the only guy you liked, lol.

I laugh whenever I see Republicans cannonizing the great Ronald Reagan, who tripled the deficit, signed one of the greatest amnesty laws in this country’s history, and was involved in one of this country’s biggest scandals, Iran-Contra.

Good thing he has that R next to his name in the history book so that you know what you think of him because I’m pretty sure if he were a Democrat, you would have disagreed with all of those points of his administration.

However, you’re right, I’m the one who doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

It’s a good thing that people like me are continually outnumbering losers like you who line yourself up with a party rather than great leaders who will do the right thing for America.

You keep telling yourself it’s going back the other way…Obama won with 51% of the vote last time, it’ll be worse in 2012.

He’s a great President.

]]>By: supashughttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-984439
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:31:22 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-984439this is a great thread, I just found out I am a millionaire while pounding a turkey sandwich

Obama, should shut his pie hole and get back to work

Birk, should shut his pie hole and start working on his long snaps

I will now go back to work

]]>By: 420fanhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-984428
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:25:52 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-984428Do we really want the Government involved? They would just invade somewhere for oil anyhow. You can’t trust the government, even if we did some ‘change’.

Ask the indians…they’ll tell you how much you can trust the Government.

]]>By: chapnastierhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-984424
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:24:03 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-984424Love it, Gov Walker said the same thing about Obama. Mind your own business Mr. President. The middle east is falling apart and our countries unemployment is realistically at 12%. Do you job sir.
]]>By: tuckercarlsonisthevoiceofreasonhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-984274
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:46:11 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-984274This is another reason why Birk is my favorite player. Obama can’t do his own job; he shouldn’t comment on how anyone else does theirs.
]]>By: txhchttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983997
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 06:09:37 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983997Cut him.
]]>By: oldhamletmanhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983987
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:28:57 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983987the league should pull an air traffic controller response, issue employment contracts, and terminate anyone who doesn’t show up on time to work…. then draft like crazy to fill the holes…. Id be fine watching new talent that had to show up to work on time like me….
]]>By: cowboysandhuskershttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983979
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:07:02 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983979Obama is an idiot, Birk is an idiot and if you think either one can relate to or cares about “the people” then you are an idiot.

Oh and by the way, McCain would have sucked too.

]]>By: deconjonesbitchslaphttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983927
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:59:24 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983927you all complain about the money these athletes make, when in fact, YOU are the reason the athletes are able to be paid this much.
]]>By: chobes68http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983917
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:41:16 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983917Last I checked, football players aren’t being paid by the hour. Don’t try to act that the average football player can relate to the average fan, when it comes to paying bills, etc. They live in a fantasy land, for the most part. As far as the owners, who cares what they make. They took the risk, and they should be allowed to enjoy the financial rewards when that risk is successful.
]]>By: goldsteelhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983875
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:57:54 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983875I don’t have much pity for Matt Birk in his situation. I believe the league minimum is $250,000.00 and he makes much more than that. Actually, what the President said was that he is irritated like the rest of us are about the strategies employed by everyone in this power struggle called the CBA. And if all of you can’t get it worked out then eventually, he will step in and help you work it out. The President’s statement was a warning to everyone.

That would actually require reason and using brain power. How the deficit is now such an issue when it really began to spin out of control beginning with the Reagan administration and went way off the rails during the previous 8 years to Obama taking office is way too comical to sit down and grasp the “concern” from these people.

Now, the unemployment rate is starting to go down, so they’ll undoubtedly start looking for another way to demonize the man for doing what’s best for the majority of us as opposed to a few.

I’m just glad a man with this much intelligence and such a great spirit is up to finishing his last 6 years in office as opposed to giving up on such a pessimistic situation.

]]>By: philriverslovespenishttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983861
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:21:43 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983861dawnlan7 says:
Mar 6, 2011 8:47 AM
“This guy is a IDIOT….”
————————————————–
What is the definition of irony again?
]]>By: giantfanintxhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983848
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:56:15 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983848Thank you realfootballfan for showing me your lack of understanding of basic economics and free enterprise. It’s people like you who get to vote that scare the hell out of the people in this country that know how to read and write and make informed decisions. That’s ok though, because once his socialist agenda finishes up, you can thank him for private industry to be destroyed, wealthy business owners who will move their companies overseas to avoid paying ridiculous taxes and redistributing wealth, and we’ll be left with a nice slim selection of government jobs, while taxing the living hell out of the few of us left working so we can pay for them.

Oh yeah, and facts might be a good thing for you to consider. While you go blaming the Repubs for the housing and credit meltdown, you might also want to read. You’ll find that Clinton’s mantra that it’s every American’s right to own a home caused the collapse. By opening the door to a bunch of folks who felt they were entitled to own a home, when it came time to pay the bill they didn’t have the cash. So who is going to pay for it? Oh that’s right, the people who work for a living and actually pay their bills. The Republicans have their fair share of the blame for the mess this country is in, but don’t go saying ridiculous comments that this president is a great man trying to right all the wrongs of the past. This is a man who is in over his head, has little understanding of how this country operates, and is planning on taking the money from those who have earned it only to give it to those who refuse to work for it.

]]>By: 1historianhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983843
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:39:17 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983843I am reminded of a quote attributed to panther owner Jerry Richardson. He said to one of the player reps – Peyton Manning? – “remember that you are just the cattle – WE are the ranchers!”

Very true, Jer, but don’t forget this WE are the ones who decide whether or not to buy the beef.
And WE can be pushed too far. Your contempt for us is pretty obvious, just don’t think that WE are so dumb that we don’t notice it.

Because we do

]]>By: oldhamletmanhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983829
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:19:53 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983829this guy blatantly exposes how arrogant and greedy they all are…
]]>By: reidstinkshttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983828
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:19:39 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983828@giantfanintx – that has to be one the dumbest statements i ever read, anywhere. In fact it appears you are so dumb that you think just because someone disagrees with you that it means they are a liberal cry baby.

Please point to 3 statements where it explicitly says people are mad about these players being wealthy or that they shoudl have to redistribute their wealth?

If anything, I would think a smart conservative like you would be angainst what Birk is saying. You know personal responsisbility and all. If these MEN fail isn’t it their fault regardless of whether they made $8 million a year or $300k?

You’ll probably disagree because people like you typically choose hyprocracy over sticking to a consistent position like personal responsibility.

]]>By: slickzmoneyhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983804
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 22:39:37 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983804For those of you who like facts to influence your political views there have been only 4 years since 1969 where U.S. presidents have balanced their budgets meaning they did not finish with an annual deficit. Clinton 3 times ’98-’00 and Bush partII ‘o1. Every other year deficits.
]]>By: macjacmccoyhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983795
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 22:19:00 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983795axshusz says:
Mar 6, 2011 3:43 PM
Birk’s work and support of the “Legends of the Game” is one area I wish more current players would support. BUT NO PLAYER since the mid-80s falls into that category. Since FA player salaries have been generous enough for them to have protected themselves.
NFL Stars through the 70s still had to have regular jobs during the offseason, although then they had a true offseason.

I have ZERO sympathy for current day players, live under your means and prepare for life after the GAME. As NFLPA says the average career is less than 3 years, save aggressively. Heck this advice may keep you out of trouble and on a roster.

Exactly, 3 years long is the average career with $500,000 minium salarly. If these guys cant live on $1.5 million and a college degree(or close to it) they dont deserve anyones sympathy.

When you point that out to people who blindly follow the Republican party with no question, there is always a reasonable explanation for why although 20 (Republican administration years) is greater than 11 (Democratic administration years) over the past 30 yers while the deficit has been increasingly out of wack during the majority of that time….then, you also have to consider that the last couple of years under the previous Democratic administration, there was a surplus.

At that point, you have to understand that people like that would follow their allegiances regardless of reason to quite absurd levels.

These are the same people who unquestioningly back candidates who tell them that they want to outlaw abortion, yet did nothing in that direction when they had all the power to do so.

However, accountability only matters when it’s not who you like….like I’ve often asked, would most people in this country even know who to vote for if they’d get rid of the D or R next to people’s names on the ballot, lol?

What do you or Matt Birk know about running a government? The Democrat in office left his successor with a balanced budget and a long period of peace and prosperity. The last Republican in office left his successor–Mr. Obama–embroiled in two wars and the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. Please just put your face back in Rupert Murdoch’s backside and be quiet.

]]>By: axshuszhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/06/matthew-birk-takes-issue-with-barack-obamas-comments/#comment-983755
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:43:20 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=115380#comment-983755Birk’s work and support of the “Legends of the Game” is one area I wish more current players would support. BUT NO PLAYER since the mid-80s falls into that category. Since FA player salaries have been generous enough for them to have protected themselves.
NFL Stars through the 70s still had to have regular jobs during the offseason, although then they had a true offseason.

I have ZERO sympathy for current day players, live under your means and prepare for life after the GAME. As NFLPA says the average career is less than 3 years, save aggressively. Heck this advice may keep you out of trouble and on a roster.